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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why Tony Boselli took Jacksonville Jaguars EVP job: 'How can I help us be the best?'
Note: Ryan O'Halloran has returned to The Florida Times-Union as their new sports columnist. He covered the Jaguars for the paper from 2012-18 before moving on to The Denver Post (Broncos beat writer, 2018-22) and The Buffalo News (NFL columnist, 2022-25). Tony Boselli is many things. College football legend. Pro Football Hall of Fame left tackle. Accomplished broadcaster and businessman. And now the Jacksonville Jaguars' executive vice president of football operations. But he is not an interior decorator. Twin big-screen TVs dominate the front wall. The interior and exterior side walls are all glass with views of the hallway and practice fields, respectively. The back wall has a cabinet with four helmets resting on top. A giant family photo from his 2022 Hall of Fame induction weekend is on the wall above the cabinet. That means it is the first thing he sees every morning. 'I don't even know how to hang a picture,' No. 71 deadpanned early Wednesday morning, pointing to a framed Times-Union sports front page of the day after he was the franchise's first-ever draft pick in 1995. Now the best part … or at least the most amusing part. Picture frames are upright on two cabinets, but don't have any pictures. There is a picture of Tom Coughlin screaming on the sideline that is leaning against a frame. HOW MUCH? Jaguars valued at more than $5.5 billion, a 17 percent increase over 2024 'One of these days, probably before the season I hope, I'll get my wife (Angi) in here (to fill the frames),' Boselli said. Tony is too busy helping rebuild the Jaguars to worry about things like building his office look. Boselli's office was a natural place for me to visit upon arriving back in Jacksonville to work for The Times-Union. He is the most decorated player in Jaguars history who answered the call-to-serve from owner Shad Khan in January to bring equal parts stability and synergy to an organization in desperate need of both. Khan hiring Boselli a smart move The first best decision Khan made upon closing on the Jaguars' purchase in January 2012 was hiring Mark Lamping as president to oversee the business side. Bringing Boselli into the fold to lead the football side could eventually rank as a close second. What a sounding board Boselli can be for new general manager James Gladstone and coach Liam Coen and what a connector he can be for the entire building, a person comfortable meeting with every department head on the payroll. And what a job Boselli, Gladstone and Coen have undertaken. There have been only three stretches of success during in The Shad Era — 2017 (lost in AFC championship game), 2022 (lost in divisional round) and 2023 (started 8-3 only to finish 9-8). That's it. Khan is on his second executive vice president of football operations (Coughlin was the first), fourth full-time general manager and sixth full-time coach. Boselli has on-the-job training Until January, Boselli observed everything with two toes in the knowledge pool. Did the games on radio. Attended training camp practices. Talked regularly with Khan. Remained close with several other members of the organization. He heard about things going on in the loop, but didn't live in the loop. Boselli does now, though — his office was previously occupied by general manager Trent Baalke; Gladstone preferred to be closer to the Jaguars' personnel department down the hall. Initially after coach Doug Pederson was fired, Khan enlisted Boselli to assist a search that included Baalke. You know how things went from there. Chaos. From my perch in Buffalo covering the playoffs, it was tough to ascertain Khan's plan, which made it impossible to rationalize. Sixteen days into the search, Baalke was bounced after Coen decided to remain Tampa Bay's offensive coordinator. Baalke out of the way, Coen re-considered and was hired on Jan. 24, followed by Boselli on Feb. 3 and Gladstone on Feb. 21. In the eyes of Jaguars fans, Khan ended at the right spot even if it wasn't in a straight line. Boselli's goal when he started? 'That I would be able to add value to everybody in the building on the team and business sides — how can I help us be the best? What role can I play?' he said. Boselli was quick to point out he is learning about his role every single day — he knows what he doesn't know. And he acknowledges having so many people in their jobs for the first time — him, Gladstone, Coen and several assistant coaches — will equal mistakes, but the goal is to not let those mistakes be repeated. Boselli raves about Gladstone's leadership, said Coen could coach any position on the field and expresses full confidence in quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Issues remain, of course, like they usually do in the preseason, but Boselli is optimistic about the return-to-health of projected starting defensive tackles Arik Armstead and Maason Smith. Being a player taught Boselli to keep one foot in front of the other in preparing for the season, but the executive is already anticipating the adrenaline of his drive to the stadium for the opener. 'I'm jacked for the season,' he said. 'I can't wait. I enjoy practice. I enjoy watching our guys getting better.' O'Halloran can be reached at rohalloran@ This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars Tony Boselli excited for start of NFL season


News18
26-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Why Stranger Things Star Winona Ryder Missed Out On Marlon Brando's Film
Last Updated: Winona Ryder was initially cast in The Freshman (1990) alongside Marlon Brando, but the offer was revoked after the producers watched her in Heathers. Winona Ryder is returning as Joyce Byers in Stranger Things Season 5, which marks the final chapter of the hit Netflix series. While fans gear up for the first part of the final season releasing on November 26, Ryder has now shared a 35-year-old secret that once deeply impacted her career. Winona Ryder Was Once Rejected From A Marlon Brando Film In a recent interview with Elle UK, the 53-year-old actress revealed that she was initially cast in the 1990 film The Freshman, opposite Marlon Brando and Matthew Broderick. But everything changed after the producers saw her in Heathers. In 1989, Winona Ryder starred in the cult dark comedy Heathers, where she played the role of Veronica Sawyer. The story follows Veronica as she teams up with JD, played by Christian Slater, to take revenge on the high school queen bee Heather Chandler, portrayed by Kim Walker. What begins as a prank turns deadly when Heather dies, and the duo stages it to look like a suicide. The film explores themes like gun violence, eating disorders, sexuality and murder, all wrapped in sharp humour and biting satire. Why Winona Ryder Lost The Role In The Freshman The Little Woman actress shared, ''I was told I was never gonna work again if I did Heathers'," admitting, 'I did lose a job." She further explained, 'They thought it was making fun of teen suicide. They were deeply offended and, yeah, they revoked the offer." In an emotional tone, Winona Ryder added, 'I'm like, 'I can't work with Marlon Brando?'" But she stood her ground. She shared, 'But I had to stand my ground. I wasn't gonna apologise." She admitted that Heather holds a special place in her heart. 'I never turn off Heathers if it's on. I know it basically by heart," she said. Heathers Director Defended The Film's Intent Earlier in an interview with The Denver Post Michael Lehman, the director of Heather clarified that it's a mix of dark crimes and comedy. He said, 'The more horrifying or disturbing human behavior is, the more opportunity there is to mine it for certain types of comedy," adding, 'You click it a few notches in one direction or another to make it absurd, and it allows to you to understand human behavior better, because people do horrible things with the best intentions." He also pointed out that much of the backlash was rooted in misinterpretation. Lehman said, 'When it came out a lot of people were very upset and there was a big politically correct backlash saying, 'How dare you make fun of teenage suicide!' But Columbine hadn't happened yet. And anyway, we weren't making fun of teenage suicide, we were making a comedy about the way teenagers are perceived by adults and how they behave to each other." Despite The Setback, Ryder's Career Soared Though she lost the role in The Freshman, Ryder's bold choice to stand by Heathers didn't slow her down. In 1990 alone, she starred in Edward Scissorhands and Mermaids. Her performances in The Age of Innocence (1993) and Little Women (1994) earned her two consecutive Oscar nominations. Over the years, she has collected a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and even a Grammy Award. Winona Ryder is set to return in Stranger Things 5, a series she has been associated with for almost a decade, continuing to win hearts as Joyce Byers. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


Daily Mail
24-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Wealthy residents of glitzy mountain town rage that 14 new PARKING spaces have ruined its 'vibe'
An ultra-exclusive mountain town has been left bitterly divided after officials developed a row of new parking spaces. Telluride, nestled in Colorado 's San Juan Mountains, is a famed summer getaway for billionaires, celebrities, and Silicon Valley moguls. In April the town added 14 new paid diagonal parking spaces on a section near its main street as part of a pilot program. It was hoped that the extra spaces would alleviate an increase in demand in the historic downtown area, creating more spaces in the high-traffic area. The spaces have been slammed by those who own or occupy homes along the road, citing safety concerns, congestion and negative effects on the town's aesthetic. Rosie Cusack, a resident of 29 years, told The Denver Post: 'The diagonal parking creates a negative visual impact as you arrive into town. It's like this terrible vibe.' Her main issue is the lack of transparency around the new spaces and the installation of the parking meters. She believes the town used the pilot program as an excuse to bring in new things without actually consulting residents. An anonymous local has also taken to placing yellow signs near the spaces, implying there is a wealth gap between those against the spaces, and those in favor. One sign reads: 'Sorry your generational wealth can't protect you from angled Toyotas'. Another said: 'Diagonal parking isn't a bad idea, but letting wealth dictate urban planning is.' It isn't all anger over the new spaces however, with Currie Parnell, who works nearby at a music store, saying they've helped bring in customers to the store. Parnell said: 'We see a huge influx of business around festivals and July 4th. Foot traffic and car traffic picks up this time of year, so it really satisfies that demand.' The town had installed a parking garage only a few years ago, but in Parnell's view the angled spaces over a quicker 'more straightforward' solution. At a town hotel meeting on, fierce critics expressed their disdain for the parking spaces to officials. According to the Post, one local suggested that council members had a 'premanufactured positive bias' of the pilot and they were forcing through the spaces. Resident Erik Dalton added: 'Ninety percent of my residential neighborhood – which is two blocks, it's small – is against this. I don't know what more we can do to show you guys this.' Council member Geneva Shaunette was also accused of ethical misconduct for submitting her own positive feedback on the spaces. Shaunette lives nears the spaces, writing: 'I love the diagonal parking because I have only had to park on a side street once this entire summer. 'Otherwise, I'm able to park within 5 spaces of my front door. As a G permit holder, I have really felt the increase in space.' The town attorney made it clear that Shaunette was not breaching any code of conduct by giving her own opinion. Deputy town manager Hayden Brodowsky told the meeting that he would continue to collect data throughout the summer over the new spaces. According to Brodowsky, despite what some locals said, there have been no safety issues observed by authorities due to the new spaces. The town has changed in recent years into a playground for the one percent, with $20 million ranches, private hiking trails and a paparazzi free summer for celebs. With limited commercial flights, Telluride is perfect for private jets, which isn't a problem for its residents, including Oprah Winfrey, who owns four properties there. The upcoming arrival of a Four Seasons — the first five-star hotel and luxe condo development in over 15 years — is a sign of what's to come.


Time of India
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
This US university is turning sombreros and string sections into a full-blown degree in mariachi
MSU Denver introduces first mariachi degree programme in Colorado. (Getty Images) Forget everything you thought you knew about college music programmes—Metropolitan State University of Denver is rewriting the score. With Colorado's very first Mariachi Performance and Culture degree, students can now major in a genre where violins, trumpets, and cultural pride take centre stage. This programme goes beyond simply teaching the music; it dives deep into the roots and meaning behind the mariachi tradition. And yes, sombreros and traditional attire are very much part of the full mariachi experience. This new major is the first of its kind in Colorado and aims to blend musical performance, cultural studies, and business skills into one comprehensive degree. The university is positioning itself as a hub for mariachi education in the US, hoping to attract students from across the country. Blending music, culture and business The Mariachi Performance and Culture degree isn't just about playing instruments and singing. Students take courses in music theory, voice, guitar, and traditional mariachi instruments like the guitarrón and vihuela. But the curriculum also includes classes in Chicano history, Spanish language, contemporary Mexican literature, marketing, and business fundamentals. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 11 Foods That Help In Healing Knee Pain Naturally Undo Philip Ficsor, a music professor at MSU Denver and one of the faculty members who helped develop the programme, told the The Denver Post, 'What we're really trying to create here is the Juilliard of mariachi. That's our goal in Denver.' From a student club to a pioneering degree The mariachi programme began as a student club founded by music professor and cultural advocate Lorenzo Trujillo. What started as a club grew into a class, and from there blossomed into a full degree programme. MSU Denver has been a leader in mariachi education for years. In 2023, the university sponsored the first youth all-state mariachi ensemble, Mariachi Estelares de Colorado. Trujillo told the The Denver Post in 2016 that he was training students to share mariachi's musical and cultural heritage with youth across Denver. A new sense of belonging and opportunity For students like Ruby Godoy Flores, mariachi is about more than music—it's about identity and community. As the secretary of the mariachi ensemble, she told the university publication, 'There's nothing like it in Colorado. It's going to bring in a lot of people, not just from here but from other states, too. Some people might not want to go to Texas or New Mexico. Now, they have another option,' as reported by the The Denver Post. The degree is expected to attract students nationwide, offering a unique educational experience that merges performance with cultural understanding and business skills. Graduates will be equipped to carry mariachi's tradition forward while navigating careers in music, education, and cultural promotion. By officially recognising mariachi as a serious academic discipline, MSU Denver is setting a precedent in US higher education. The programme ensures students graduate not only with musical talent but also with a deep appreciation for mariachi's origins and its continuing cultural impact. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!


Daily Mirror
05-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Little girl vanishes after school concert - then sick truth unfolds
When a young teenage girl vanished into thin air on a snowy winter's evening after a Christmas concert, it sparked a huge police search, but for years, what happened remained a mystery It was just a few days before Christmas when 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews vanished from her Colorado home after being dropped back after a school concert. Jonelle had been performing in a Christmas concert while her dad was at a basketball game and her mum was away from home caring for a family member. After getting a lift home with a friend she spoke to her father on the phone, but when he returned to the family home shortly after, he found the garage door open and an empty house. For over 30 years, Jonelle Matthews' disappearance on December 20, 1984, remained a mystery. It wasn't until some 35 years later that her remains were discovered during a pipe installation in 2019. A year later in 2020, Steven Pankey — a local man with ties to her church who later ran twice for the governor of Idaho — was arrested. After two trials, he was convicted of felony murder and kidnapping and sentenced to life in prison. "During those decades, generations of Greeley police officers have never forgotten Jonelle, many living in torment over the possibilities of what may have occurred that grim evening in 1984, and what could be done to solve this mystery," the Greeley Police Department said in a statement following Pankey's arrest. Pankey had continuously involved himself in the investigation and displayed odd behaviour regarding Jonelle's disappearance. Even his ex-wife, Angela Hicks, said in Oxygen's 2024 docuseries The Girl on the Milk Carton that she started collecting evidence against him years before his arrest. So what happened to Jonelle Matthews? Jonelle was a 12-year-old student living in Greeley with her parents who loved to sing and cross-stitch gifts for her friends. According to The Denver Post, she had been adopted from Los Angeles when she was one month old because her birth mother was only 13 when she gave birth. 'You could tell Jonelle had been there,' her dad, Jim Matthews, said in a November 2024 episode of 48 Hours. 'I yelled out 'Hi Jonelle,' 'Jonelle, are you there?' No answer.' After her dad called the police, investigators found footprints in the snow near the family's home. Her dad told 48 Hours that it looked like someone had tried to mess the prints up with a garden rake. Jonelle's case caught national attention after she became one of the first kids featured in the Missing Children Milk Carton Program and president Ronald Reagan discussed her disappearance during a 1985 meeting with the National Newspaper Association. But on the tenth anniversary of her disappearance in 1994, her family had Jonelle declared legally dead, The Denver Post reported. Her case went cold until July 2019, when a group of oil and gas workers discovered her remains while digging a pipeline less than 20 miles from the Matthews' home in Greeley. It was only then that Jonelle's death was ruled as murder and her autopsy report revealed she had been shot in the head. Pankey was a fellow Greeley resident, living just two miles away from the Matthews' home who served as a former youth minister at the same church. After Jonelle went missing, his former wife said her ex-husband began acting 'suspiciously' spending hours digging a hole in their yard, becoming fixated on news coverage around her case and making them leave town. She started collecting evidence against Pankey in 1999. Pankey also involved himself in the police's search for Jonelle and repeatedly hinted to investigators that he knew what happened. When his son was shot and killed by his girlfriend in 2008, Hicks claimed that she heard him say, 'I hope God didn't allow this to happen because of Jonelle Matthews.' Pankey was indicted by a grand jury in October 2020 on charges of murder, kidnapping and crimes of violence. According to 48 Hours, he allegedly took Jonelle from her family home and shot her some time 'during the course of the kidnapping.' The document also claimed that Pankey was aware of the rake used to blur the footprints. He was first tried in October 2021, but it ended in a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a verdict on the murder and kidnapping charges. However, he was found guilty of false reporting. Two years later, he was tried again and found guilty of felony murder and second-degree kidnapping. Pankey was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, reports the Greeley Tribune.